I'm Sorry For My Errors.....

The blog entry yesterday got by me with two errors. Thank you editor Wanda.

Here is a cute party idea: Put ice cubs in a colander set on top of a bowl or bucket. The melted water will drain out leaving the solid stuff for guests. Great unless you're serving pasta.....ice cubs? Maybe there are ice molds of cute little bears but this should have been cubes.

Stop searching high and low for hair clips and elastics: Store them tidily on an empty TP tube. A few months ago I suggested using toilet paper tubs for binoculars, which is a much better idea. A hair clip or band often comes off with hair stuck to it. Do you really want to see a toilet paper tube with hairy rubber bands wound around it? I don't think so.....How long do you think a tub made of toilet paper would last? This should have been tubes.

Cubs, cubes, tubs, tubes...You say tomato and I say tomahto.

Yesterday, in part, I wrote about the vast information jungle called the World Wide Web. My use of the complete designation rather than The Internet, the Net, or the initials WWW is an homage to the film "For Your Consideration". 

My use of the word homage is an homage to the word homage.

Definition of Homage.....

1. a : feudal ceremony by which a man acknowledges himself the vassal of a lord
    b : the relationship between a feudal lord and his vassal
    c : an act done or payment made in meeting the obligations of vassalage
2. a : expression of high regard: RESPECT-often used with pay
    b : something that shows respect or attests to the worth or influence of another: TRIBUTE-his long life was filled with international homages to his unique musical talent.

You're familiar with the expression it doesn't get any better than this. Two of my favorite words in one place, HOMAGE and VASSAL. A feudal lord I'd rather be but saying vassal is more fun to me.

Let's take a look at our grocery shopping. A few tips on what not to buy, or eat.

Parmigiano-Reggiano Cheese: It's $22 a pound and Pecorino Romano and SarVecchio offers the same flavor at half the price. Some people have sensitive palates and appreciate the subtle taste of exotic cheese. I do not. If I can't pronounce it, I don't buy it. I find much of the fancy cheese smells like feet. Give me a $2.98 package of sliced Gouda or at most, a nice Brie.

Smoked and Cured Meats: Linked to cancer, high blood pressure, and migraines; just say no to hot dogs and sausages. They're packed with artery-clogging grease: regulations allow up to 50% (by weight) of fresh pork sausage to be fat. A couple times of year won't kill you. Even with the knowledge it's unhealthy, nothing beats a great coney on the 4th of July. Except maybe a $1.50 with a drink dog at Costco. 

"Blueberry" items: In the movie "Casino" Robert DeNiro as casino manager Ace Rothstein went into a tirade about the number of blueberries in blueberry muffins. "Look at my muffin", he yells. "Now, look at his. He has three times the number of berries in his. From now on I want you to put an equal amount of blueberries in each muffin." The baker looks at him like he has three heads. "Do you know how long that will take?" he asks. "I don't care....an equal amount of blueberries in each muffin, understand?"

They were using blueberries in the movie unlike most of the blueberry-flavored items on grocery store shelves. Blueberry flavored cereal and snack bars don't feature a single actual berry, just artificial flavor. Blueberries are a "wonder food" and really healthy. The ones that grow, the round blue things.

Reduced Fat Peanut Butter: When they take out the fat they add sugar. I love peanut butter and jelly but stopped eating it. Aside from the obvious I also ate two slices of bread. And the must have addition, potato chips. It was a high caloric lunch. Now I limit my peanut butter consumption to Wanda's baking. Exercise and diet moderation allow me a couple of cookies on week ends. That is if I've been good all week. If not, they freeze well.

Bottled Tea: Brew your own. You'll save money, it tastes better and you avoid all the packaged sugar.

Tomato-based Pasta Sauce: This is one of those "we don't get it items." Bottled pasta sauce is loaded with strange ingredients and lots of sugar. It's also two to six times the cost of making your own. I realize people are busy but Saturday morning get the crock pot and make a batch. Freeze it and you have pasta sauce for several months. It tastes much better and costs much less.

Energy Drinks: Heart attacks, convulsions, and even deaths have been linked to several brands. These quick energy chargers are often sugar bombs. Research has indicated caffeine may be good for us. I've never even tasted one of the many energy drinks on the market. If I can make it through the day on coffee, so can you.

Foods Made of Wood: Sounds odd, yes. Cellulose is an ingredient found in many high-fiber food, like cereal and snack bars. Cellulose is a code word for "wood pulp." Last time I looked in the mirror I didn't see Woody Woodchuck looking back at me. If I want wood in my food I'll use chopsticks.

Bottled Water: Over the years Wanda and I have used a five gallon bottle on a dispenser, faucet attachments, pitcher filtration, and individual charcoal filtered bottles. The only thing that's helped us drink our 64 ounces of liquid a day is store bought bottled water. Now I hear it takes energy to manufacture the bottles and the plastic is hard on the environment. 

I can only do so much to minimize my carbon footprint. This summer I'll set the AC at 68 rather than 67. I'm going to drink bottled water and I swear, I'm not going to feel guilty about it.

I have enough guilt as is. I don't need any more.